Stocking and like garment and to attachments therefor



Jag. s "[1924.' 1,480,385

H. c. FRA$ER STOCKING AND LIKE GARMENT AND TO ATTACHMENTS THEREFOR Filed OCT.. 2'?. 1920 Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

V UNITED STATES man' cmsHoLm FRASER,

1,480,385 PATENT ori-leaf F BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND.

l STOCKING LAND LIKE GARMENT AND TO ATTACHMETS THEREFOR. f

Application led October 27, 1920. Serial No. 419,980.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that HANNAH CmsHoLM FRASER, of Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, a subject of the King of Great Britain, hath invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stockings and like Garments and to Attachments Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to stockings and like garments and to attachments therefor, for use Iwith Suspenders or like supporting means. y

I have found that the pull of a suspender on a stocking is more evenly and better distributed around the stocking if the points at which the suspender attachment is secured to the stocking do not coincide with the centre of the loops on the attachment and-that, as regards an attachment formed by securing a length of fabric to a stocking so as to form a continuous band with spaced loops, the stitching which fastens the attachment to the stocking should enclose small areas each disposed intermediate the loops. In this way, the pulling strain on the stocking is properly distributed so as to take full advantage of the elasticity of the stocking fabric without damaging the same, at the same time giving the stocking a very neat appearance. The method of attaching the length of fabric to the stocking, i. e. by spacing the points of attachment intermediate the supporting loops and securing the said attachment to the stocking at localized points only, has the advantage that full benefit may be taken of the elasticity of the material when the stocking is stretched laterally, for example, when it is being pulled over the knee of the wearer. It will be obvious that if the stocking is ulled in opposite directions at two of said ocalized points of attachment, the material between the latter will be able to stretch owing to the freelength of the loop of .fabric disposed intermediate the points of attachment, which permits of such stretching, whereas if the attachment were secured to the stocking by a continuous chain of tlitches such stretching would be impossi- According to this invention, I provide a new article of manufacture for use with stockings and similar garments and suspenders, comprising a length of fabric crossed to forma loop and secured at the crossing and enlarged tabs formed on the fabric spaced from each other and `forming the only points of connection between the said length of fabric and the stocking or simllar garment, so that the supporting pull 1s spaced around the circumferencel of the stocking or similar garment being exerted diagonally thereon and lateral stretching of the material of the said stocking or similar garment being permitted, whilst the liexibility of the said material is preserved. The effect of such pulling strain is to draw the points of attachment of the loop or loops with the stocking 'closer together and thus take advantage of the elasticityofthe material and avoid unduly stretching the garment or pulling it out of shape.

The loop or loops is or are secured at its lower ends or portions tothestocking or other garment and the looped portion or portions extends or extend upwardly therefrom.

Preferably the loop or loops is or are formed of a fabric which is flexible lengthwise, such as a knitted or like fabric, a1- though other fabrics may be used if desired.

The loop or loops are provided or formed with enlarged or suitably shaped portions which are attached by stitches to the stocking or other garment. The loop Vor loops may be connected to a band or garter ada ted to be attached to the stocking or t e like, or the latter may be knitted or otherwise woven with a thickened portion around that part to which the loop or loops is or are attached.

The invention is further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of various constructions are illustrated, and in these drawings, Fig. 1 shews the upper end of a stocking provided with a looped means for the connection of a suspender therewith, Fig. 2 illustrates the looped means connected with a suspender and the effect of such connection, Fig. 3 illustrates a looped connecting means ready for attachment to a stocking, Fig. 4 is an illustration of a looped connectingl means provided in conjunction with a han or garter, part of which is illustrated, adapted for attachment to the stocking7 Fig. 5 shews the upper end of a stocking reinforced or fitted with a garter or band at that part to which the looped connecting means is attached, and Fig.` 6 is an illustration of a modified form of looping means,

Referring tothe construction of looped connecting means shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this may be formed of any suitable woven or other fabric or material, preferably of knitted, plaited or like fabric with upwardly projecting loops a produced by crossing the fabric or material between the points or tabs l) at which the looped connecting means is secured to the stocking or the like. These points or tabs b may be produced in any suitable manner, such as by forming enlargements in the said fabric during its production, or by coiling or looping the same upon itself. The crossing parts c of the fabric or material are secured together to maintain the upwardly projecting parts as loops a. In Fig. l the means is shewn attached to the upper end d of a stocking, while in Fig. 3 the connecting means is shewn by itself ready for attachment to the garment.

Fig. 2 illustrates the means in use, one of the loops being connectedvwith a sus pender. In this view it will be seen that the elasticity of the material or fabric of the stocking comes into use in the support of the garment, the strain on the garment. especially during walking, being taken up by the material or fabric, such strain being distributed laterally and around the part to which the connecting means is attached, thus avoiding undue strain or any damage to the garment and at the same time imparting a sense of comfort hitherto unknown with suspender attachments.

The attachment of the means to the stockingor the like may be effected by sewing or in any other suitable manner, such sewing or its equivalent securing the lower parts of the loops, or the tabs b, to the stocking.

The alternative construction shewn in Fig. 4 comprises a loop connecting means formed by crossing the material or fabric at a series of parts as denoted by c and securing the crossing parts together. By the provision of a series of loops a number of points of connection are provided for the suspender. In this alternative construction is also illustrated a part of a band or garter f of knitted material or fabric to which the looped connecting means is attached at the points b.

The band and the looped connection may be formed of any suitable fabric or material, but knitted or like fabric is preferred, although, if desired, elastic, or similar fabric or material may be employed. It is found in practice that the knitted' or like fabric is very adaptable'for the looped connecting means and possesses the ldesired elasticity or flexibility suitable for the'purpos'e.

A further alternative is illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein the stocking is reinforced or strengthened as at g around the part to which the connecting means is attached.

I n this figure the upwardly projecting loops, one on each side, are shewn at c and c1 as crossed, While -the middle upwardll projecting loop a1 is shewn as not crosse Enlargements or tabs b are provided for the attachment of the loops to the stocking or part to be attached thereto. This construction is more particularly adapted for stockings and like garments of a thin or light weightvcharacter, and may be employed in 'connection with medium or thick stockings, although the latter will be generally strong enough for the attachment of the connecting means without any reinforcing. Where desired, the garment maybe reinforced or strengthened in any desired manner, or the loops or looped connecting means may be provided or formed with enlargements or tabs or their equivalent for the secure attachment thereof and for strengthening that or those part or parts of the stocking to which the means is attached.

The modified construction shewn in Fig. 6 comprises a looped connecting means formed of cord or similar material knotted at the points c1 to forni a series of loops a2 as shewn. The ends of the cord are'l preferably enlarged as at I) for obtaining a secure and distributed attachment to the stocking.

As an alternative means for securing the looped connecting means to the stocking, the means may be provided on a piece of knitted or like fabric adapted to form or serve as the top of a stocking. Such a top or its equivalent may be secured in osition in any suitable manner and may e substituted for a damaged part removed from the stocking.

The improved means serves not. only to provide for greater comfort to the wearer or user of Suspenders but also enables stockings of a single thic ess throughout, that is, with a so-calle-d single hem to be made use of with absolute comfort and an entire absence of damage during use, thus consider-` ably economizing in the initial cost, and yat the same time lensuring an attractive appearance of the stocking throughout the life thereof.

The construction shewn in Fig. 5 applies 'A new article of manufacturefor use with stockings o r similar garments and suspenders, comprising a length1of fabriccrossed to form a loop and secured at the crossing and enlarged tabs, formed on the fabric, being permitted whilst the exibility of the I. spaced from each other and forming the onl said material is preserved.

points of connection between the said length In testimon whereof I ax my signature of fabric and the stocking or similar garin presence o two witnesses.

ment, so that the supporting pull is spaced around the circumference of the stocking or HANNAH CHISHOLM FRASER similar garment being exerted diagonally Witnesses: i thereon and lateral stretching of the ma- H. D. FrrzPA'rRIGK,

terial of the said stocking or similar garment Sr J. EARL. 

